Veterans News Now
Wajam*
Google Drive*
( They look appealing. )
10:23 pm MST
Newsweek Japan asked me for an long-form essay on Korea’s economy for its
December 5 issue (cover story to the left). Here is the link in Japanese,
but I thought it would be useful to publish the original, untranslated
version as well. (If you actually want the Japanese language version, email
me for it please.)
Continue reading
Wajam*
Google Drive*
( They look appealing. )
10:23 pm MST
Only Once Has Canada's Minister of Defence Taken Part In A 'Peace Keeping Mission' Since Harper Became PM
*Pity ... we were once a proud and respected nation that put our military
between warring parties ... Harper has turned us into his idea of a
'warrior' nation. Yesterday was the first 'peace keeping mission' that
Canada's Minister of Defence has been involved with in many, many years.*
North Korea Currently Filling Rocket Fuel Tank at Dongchang-ri in Preparation for Launch
*More here:*
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=10114
Pillars of Light Over Finland
Forwarded to me by GW Hardin and Michael Sharpe from a Finnish web site.
Here's Blossom Goodchild's channeling links to the predicted pillars of
light:
Aug 28, 2012: http://galacticchannelings.com/english/blossom28-08-12.html
June 06, 2012: http://galacticchannelings.com/english/blossom06-06-12.html
March 01, 2012: http://galacticchannelings.com/english/blossom01-03-12.html
January 30, 2012:
http://galacticchannelings.com/english/blossom30-01-12.html
November 29, 2011:
http://galacticchannelings.com/english/blossom29-11-11.html
November 24, 2011:
http://galacticchanneling... more »
Sifting Through the Smoking Wreckage of Canada's F-35 Fiasco
*Never to Be*
The Harper government's abandonment of the "troubled" F-35 buy has seismic
implications.
This is the first time Stephen Harper truly lost his mojo. He wanted this
hopelessly flawed warplane so badly that he was prepared to lie and have
his cabinet menagerie do the same. It was Canada's admission ticket to
America's aerial Foreign Legion. It was stepping up to the plate, staring
down the critics at home, standing "shoulder to shoulder" with all the big
boys - America, Britain, Australia - all the English-speaking
major-leaguers.
Curiously enough it wasn't the F-35's... more »
The Pathology of the Free-Trade Disease
A prophetic interview with Sir James Goldsmith in 1994 exposes pathology of
economic decline - sober warning then vs. NAFTA & GATT, and a sober,
vindicated warning today against TPP, ASEAN, and more.
*December 7, 2012* (LD) - The sneering, conniving defenders of free-trade
laughed in Sir James Goldsmith's face during a 1994 interview when
Goldsmith warned that not only would unskilled labor be moved offshore in
the wake of both NAFTA and GATT, but skilled labor as well, undermining the
very purpose of nation's economy to serve the needs of society, and instead
serve the needs of va... more »
Apple... INsourcing
Apple is such an iconic American brand that many Apple evangelists feel
hurt that the company outsources so much of its maufacturing overseas.
People are more emotionally attached to Apple than to most brands-- and
want it to be all-American... or at least, more American. And that may be
happening. According to CEO Tim Cook, Apple is planning to bring back some
of its production to the U.S. from China next year. In fact, some of the
newest iMacs no longer carry the embarrassing "designed in California,
assembled in China" label.
Looks like Apple is sick of being the face of outs... more »
Canada Bails Out on the F-35
*It's over!!!* Canada will not be buying Lockheed's "troubled" light
strike bomber.
*Faced with the imminent release of an audit by accountants KPMG that will
push the total projected life-cycle costs of the aircraft above $30
billion, the operations committee of the federal Cabinet decided to scrap
the controversial sole-source program and go back to the drawing board, a
source familiar with the decision said.*
Shit, now what am I going to write about? Oh yeah, stopping the Northern
Gateway.
What to do now? How about a real competition where we test all the
contenders agai... more »
A Big Win for American Progressives
U.S. chain restaurants like Papa John's and Applebee's didn't pull any
punches before the November elections. In fact they outright threatened
they would retaliate against an Obama win, taking it out on their employees.
Papa John C.E.O. John Schnatter vowed to cut his employees' hours so they
wouldn't qualify for Obamacare benefits. Applebee's said they would build
no new restaurants and hire no new staff. These were just two of many
firms that issued similar, dire threats.
Oopsie.
The public backlash against Papa John's, Applebee's and the others was prompt
and brutal.
*A... more »
How long did Cain hate his brother?
As long as he was Abel.
Insane Israeli Prime Minister Says Conflict With Palestinians Is NOT About (Illegal) Settlements (!)
I have come to a conclusion a while ago, and I suppose everyone sees it the
same way... How can you tell when the criminally insane Prime Minister of
the criminal and terrorist state of Israel is lying? Simple.. When he
opens his mouth! The proof is obvious in his recent statements when all
he tells is lie after lie, especially about Israel's continuing murderous
campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Now comes another example of Benyamin Milikowsky (Netanyahu) insanity...
According to this report that comes from the Israel National News website,
at www.israelnation... more »
Watch: US gov’t charges nun, anti-nuclear activists with sabotage (VIDEO)
Three anti-nuclear activists, including a nun, are charged under the
Federal Sabotage Act for vandalizing the walls of a uranium facility with
blood and peace messages.
[...] As part of an updated indictment announced on Wednesday, Greg
Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli and Sister Megan Rice could spend 20 years in
prison for the felony crime of injuring national-defense premises under the
Sabotage Act.
“They are innocent of all these charges and feel that everything they did
was legal and moral, and I think they believe that this (new charge) is
ridiculous,” said Bill Quigley, a law pr... more »
The Obush Doctrine Comes Alive: Obama Admin Prepares To Attack Syria
An excerpt from an article by 'b' at Moon of Alabama called, *"German
Paper: U.S. Pressing For NATO War On Syria"*:
While U.S. "officials" continue to spread rumors of Syrian preparations of
chemical weapons the reliable center-left German daily *Süddeutsche Zeitung*
reports (in German) on U.S. attempts to get NATO to fight a war against
Syria.
An excerpt from John Glaser's article, *"Obama’s Syria Policy Comes
Dangerously Close to ‘Bush Doctrine’"*:
The Obama administration is peddling two scenarios for a potential war in
Syria. With news and official statements this week repeati... more »
“Blue Skies: The Sky Is Blue Even on a Cloudy Day”
*“Blue Skies: The Sky Is Blue Even on a Cloudy Day”*
by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM
“Darker days are just as much a part of life as are the days graced with
sunshine. When we refer to a “beautiful day,” we are often describing a day
that is sunny, clear, and without a cloud in sight to mar a sky that is a
brilliantly perfect blue. We find ourselves bouncing along, light in
spirit, free from worries, and enjoying the moment. That is, until the
clouds begin to form. The sky may turn grey, and a fog may roll in. Puffs
of white take on whimsical, darker shades, and our beautiful day ... more »
Op-Ed: US-UK Genocide Against Iraq 1990-2012 Killed 3.3 Million-Including 750K Children
Denis Campbell's U.K. Progressive
Sherwood Ross
Approximately 3.3 million Iraqis, including 750,000 children, were
“exterminated” by economic sanctions and/or illegal wars conducted by the
U.S. and Great Britain between 1990 and 2012, an eminent international
legal authority says.
The slaughter fits the classic definition of Genocide Convention Article II
of, “Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to
bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” says Francis
Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois,
Champaign, an... more »
Middle-earth will swallow you
Fully engulfed in The Hobbit mania building on the internets. Love this
from George Takei this morning on the facebook.
And haven't watched this whole video yet, but thanks to Atrios who
uncovered this gem of a former adaption in the original Russian.
[via]
Come to think of it, there was also a hopelessly unsatisfying animated
version that aired on the teevee at least two decades ago. Odd that hasn't
turned up yet. Perhaps we're all trying to forget that one.
Chet Raymo, "Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence"
*"Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence" *
by Chet Raymo
"There have been so many books lately proffering "proof of heaven" one
could almost call it a fad. Seems like everyone and his brother has had a
near death experience that gave them a short sojourn in paradise. And a
book contract. Am I being cynical? I suppose so. I do wonder though why no
one ever has a near death experience of the other place. A book called
"Hell Is For Real". Who's going to buy that?
The latest contender is different. Dr. Eben Alexander came to the heavenly
feast with credentials as a neu... more »
Forget Jim DeMented, and Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff. I came THIS CLOSE to running into Katie Holmes at the Carnegie Deli!
*Inquiring minds want to know: Did Katie
eat that turkey Reuben all by herself?*
*by Ken*
I know we should be talking about world-changing stuff, like SC Sen. Jim
DeMented's decision to move his Senior Crazyman's Caucus of One from the
Senate to the Heritage Foundation, presumably to eliminate any possible
confusion about the quality of thinking coming out of a "think" tank that
was once known as merely right of center. (This must also come as a relief
to SC's other senator, "Loopy Lindsey" Graham, who seems to be living in
terror these days of being primaried from the Far Right in... more »
Mind Over Matter
Can we really train our minds to do tasks we once considered possible only
with our hands and feet? It seems the answer is "yes."
Washington Floats Chemical Weapons Charge as Pretext for Syria Buildup
Global Research
Bill Van Auken
[image: syriaflag]The Obama administration and the corporate media have
cited unspecified “intelligence” about the movement of chemical weapons to
issue new threats of direct intervention in Syria, where Washington and its
allies have been backing so-called “rebels” in a bid to topple the regime
of President Bashar al-Assad.
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both made
public statements Monday alleging a danger of Syria using chemical weapons
and threatening US retaliation.
Appearing before a military audience at the Nation... more »
PORTAL 2012: The Omega Grid
http://2012portal.blogspot.com/2012/12/theomega-grid-tacticalreadiness-of.html
Thursday, December 6, 2012
*The Omega Grid*
Tactical readiness of the Light forces on the surface of our planet to
trigger the Event was reached on November 22nd at the opening of the
eleventh gate of the 11:11.
The first crucial factor to achieve this was a general decision of the
critical mass of key people within positive surface groups that they will
cooperate with Resistance surface operatives when the Event will be
triggered. Therefore we now have enough consensus within top echelons of
posit... more »
U.S.: "Don't emulate us, Syria!"
The U.S. government is now vociferously warning Syria not to use chemical
weapons. The U.S. government! That would be the same country that firebombed
67 Japanese cities, killing hundreds of thousands of people and destroying
50-90% of each of the cities. Were they dropping matches from the air? No,
they were dropping Napalm bombs, a chemical weapon.
That would also be the country that in addition to continuing to use Napalm
in its war against the people of Vietnam, carpetbombed that country with Agent
Orange, another chemical weapon that killed or maimed an estimated 400,000
Vietn... more »
Black 9/11: Money, Motive, Technology, and Plausible Deniability
Help Us Transmit This Story
Add to Your Blogger Account Put it On Facebook Tweet this post
Print it from your printer Email and a collection of other outlets Try
even more services
World Bank - High Food Prices are the New Normal
High food prices mean one thing for many people, food insecurity. A report
from the World Bank warns that high food prices have become the "new
normal" meaning that the scourge of food insecurity for the most vulnerable
is now permanent.
The world cannot afford for high and volatile food prices to be the “new
normal,” while millions of people continue to suffer from hunger and to die
from malnutrition, the World Bank Group warned today.
The World Bank's Vice President, Otaviano Canuto, warns*“A new norm of high
prices seems to be consolidating. **The world cannot afford to be
co... more »
How to Prosecute the 9/11 War Crimes - Panel Discussion at the 9/11 Revisited Conference in Malaysia
Help Us Transmit This Story
Add to Your Blogger Account Put it On Facebook Tweet this post
Print it from your printer Email and a collection of other outlets Try
even more services
GAIA PORTAL: Winding Energetic Roads” Being Made Straight
*
* *Winding Energetic Roads” Being Made Straight*
*by ÉirePort*
*
* What we would call "Winding Energetic Roads" are being made straight.
Energy pathways of complex configuration are being straightened in
preparation of the 12-12-12 gateway. each Hue-man will be able to
comprehend and feel this "straightening".
Complexity is simplified.
Discontinuity is rectified.
Discord is harmonized.
Uncertainty is clarified.
Energetic patterns to be "solidified" via the 12-12-12 permit direct
pathways to Higher Self Awareness and understanding.
Grids of Iridescent Blue bring in the new.
Éi... more »
What's in a name
I understand what Ryan is trying to say here. I share his regret that we
didn't come up with a better name than the fiscal cliff. But I don't think
the problem was that everyone was too fond of their own alternative. It's
more that none of the alternatives were catchy enough.
I'm reminded of our efforts to dislodge Obamacare. Once a term gets firmly
lodged in the official public discourse, it's really hard to replace it.
Not even sure it's worth it in this case. This fight won't last that long.
Personally, I wish the left could find a way to replace the odious
"entitlements." That ... more »
Did Israel actually create Hamas similarly to how the CIA created Al Qaeda? (Oops.)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275572295011847.html
*Matt's thoughts:*
I tell you guys, the more you look into this situation and the more
investigation we do, the more absurd it really becomes. With the entire
region, and perhaps world, on the brink of a massive war, possibly even a
third world war, this is perhaps the worse possible time for people to drop
their thinking caps and to start cheering from the bleachers. This region
requires a massive injection of sanity, or a heck of a lot of people are
about to lose their lives in yet another senseless conflict.
IDF fires at journalists: Stuff the media really, really prefers you forget about
*Added thoughts:*
Lest we forget the indiscriminate bombing of media buildings in Gaza, It's
always interesting to see how a "democracy" treats journalists. You can
usually tell by such treatment what the real intentions are. Shoo, you
informational mosquitoes, you. Shoo. Fetch your nectar of truth elsewhere.
Failing to Understand RIM's Business Strategy
I
REALLY want Research in Motion to survive and thrive on the
marketplace. I REALLY don't think that's going to happen.
Research in Motion's business strategy has all the appearances of a
company flailing about, without a vision or a long term strategy. It all
started for me when RIM offered free Playbooks to companies that
upgraded their Blackberry Enterprise Server solution to the latest
Crush fanaticism.
*Added thoughts:*
While a fringe group of radical, fanatical "Jews" and "Christians" (by no
means true Jews or Christians such as the ones the CC has the privilege of
calling friends) call for the slaughter of Arabs, Muslims, and likely
anyone in general who don't adhere to their interpretation of the
scripture, the silent majority, steadily unwilling to be silent any longer,
are taking the Israeli government to task (and America's) for actions taken
in the masquerade for "peace". The photo above is one of many protesting
the issue. On the opposite side of the coin, the MSM has man... more »
Plagiarism, schmagiarism: Journalistic word theft slowly killing industry integrity
I remember the moment when I was first plagiarized. It was a special
moment... finally I wrote something worthy enough to be stolen from me. I
It was a story about a man who robbed a Bank of America in 2010 wearing a
bright blue yarmulke. One year after the incident the man remained
unidentified and at large. The only evidence police had included a security
camera photograph of the man stuffing a wad of cash into his jacket, and
the testimony of the bank clerks. My editor, Josh Fisher, asked me to find
out if the Darien police had any information on the guy. So I began making
phon... more »
Aangirfan - Fidel Castro of The CIA
*"Fidel Castro of The CIA"* by Aangirfan is a very important article. It
states, "Cuba had its 'revolution', but it was the CIA that put Castro into
power."
With a wide collection of news articles and historical evidence, the
article shows the ubiquitous influence of the CIA and its various assets
around the world, both in government and media. Their power to deceive and
hoodwink the global public is nearly limitless. The CIA should be called
the Counter-Intuitive Agency.
*II. Reason for the CIA's covert support of Castro and his "Communist
revolution" in Cuba:*
Installing a co... more »
Missile-like object (with tail) spotted on NASA Mars Spirit Rover photograph
*Added info:*
The case for photoshopping grows dim when we can see the precise same
object on the raw photograph direct from NASA's website.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/2/p/584/2P178208022EFFAE03P2264R7M1.JPG
So, what is it then? An artifact? A craft? Our imaginations?
More derivative, unnecessary guff
*Ob La Di Ob La Da*
Paul's approximation of Blue Beat, Ob La Di Ob La Da was one of the first
things to sour the White Album sessions. With Brian Epstein dead and George
Martin withdrawing from his former role Paul stepped up as an all-purpose
leader. The band were moving apart in terms of taste, lifestyle and
personal priorities (and just plain growing up). Paul was not the
authority figure who could dragoon through the usual routine, he was just
too close to the rest of the Beatles. No wonder the sessions rambled over
seven months.
It's also an example of Paul's very different... more »
BOOKS / C.E. McAuley : Jonah Raskin's Bio of 'Pedagogical Pilgrim' James McGrath
Jonah
Raskin's biography of artist/teacher James McGrath was designed by Rag
Blog art director James Retherford.
Pedagogical pilgrim:
Jonah Raskin's new bio of
artist/teacher James McGrath
Raskin's new biography is no simple valentine from one teacher to
another. It is an in-depth and compelling look, not only about McGrath’s
life journey, but also the sacrifices he made along the way.
By C.E
Steve Russell : Will Rogers and the Jokes of Partisan Politics
Will
Rogers. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
The jokes of partisan politics:
Will Rogers 'chews to run'
'I’m not a member of any organized political party,' he famously
confessed, 'I’m a Democrat.'
By Steve Russell / The Rag Blog / December 7, 2012
Will Rogers, the Paint Clan Cherokee cowboy turned entertainer turned
political pundit, used to say he did not make jokes. “I just watch the
Atmospheric River Hammers California
It was around this time last year that an *atmospheric river *was singled
out as the culprit responsible for causing massive flooding in the U.K. *New
Scientist* posted a chart of it.
Now California is getting hammered by another atmospheric river shown in
yellow here:
*An atmospheric river is a narrow conveyor belt of vapor about a mile high
that extends thousands of miles from out at sea and can carry as much water
as 15 Mississippi Rivers. It strikes as a series of storms that arrive for
days or weeks on end. Each storm can dump inches of rain or feet of snow.
For more detai... more »
Flustered McConnell filibusters his own bill
This is the high comedy of the day on Capitol Hill. You'll recall when our
country was teetering on the edge of an actual fiscal cliff during the last
year's debt limit fight, Mitch McConnell came up with a brilliant gambit to
allow everyone to win. The basic agreement was the President could raise
the limit, Congress could say no but the President could override that and
it would take a two thirds vote to override the President. Which would then
trigger spending cuts. Or not. It never passed.
So this morning, Mitch, thinking Harry didn't have the votes, thought he
was being quite... more »
"Imperial Crime and Complicity In Ancient Rome and Modern America"
*"Imperial Crime and Complicity In Ancient Rome and Modern America"*
By Tim Case
"The punishment of the criminal is measured by the degree of astonishment
of the judge who finds his crime incomprehensible." - Friedrich W. Nietzsche
"You would think that if the present administration with its adoring
minions is going to rule by the Machiavellian code, as outlined in the “The
Prince”, they would at least take to heart the admonition that "as princes
cannot help being hated by someone, they ought, in the first place, to
avoid being hated by every one, and when they cannot compass t... more »
"We Are Not Special, and There Is No Happy Ending"
*"We Are Not Special, and There Is No Happy Ending*:
*The Blood-Drenched Darkness of American Exceptionalism"*
by Arthur Silber
"You may not regard the two propositions in my title as deserving of any
special attention. You may think, entirely correctly, that if we as
Americans are special, it is only in the way that any human being is
special: that each of us is unique and irreplaceable, that each of our
lives, and the lives of all of us, demand reverence for the unrepeatable
value of a person's brief passage in this world. And you may recognize,
also correctly, that certain act... more »
Catch of the Day
To Brad DeLong, for debunking some bad budget history:
Why 1970--when nothing happens to derange either the pattern of deficits as
a share of GDP or the trajectory of the debt-to-GDP ratio--rather than
1980, when the election of Ronald Reagan does change the pattern of
deficits and the trajectory of the debt-to-GDP ratio?
Why speak of the late 1990s only as the era of the dot-com boom (which
makes about 1/4 of the difference for the deficit) rather than the era of
Clinton tax increases and spending cuts (which make about 3/4 of the
difference for the deficit)--both of which were ver... more »
Maybe It's Time to Get Out of Dodge
This was bound to happen. Inevitable.
American cellular giant Verizon has filed a patent application for a device
to watch you watching TV. Who is interested in watching you watch TV?
Probably more people than you can imagine but TV advertisers would be near
the top of the list. That's certainly Verizon's target group.
*[Verizon] has filed a patent, published last week, for a system designed
to be used in the home to target advertisements at people. Using a
combination of image and audio sensors, it would detect actions in your
living room while you were watching TV. These s... more »
Right-Wing Extremist Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Insists Obama Has No Mandate-- Lies About Election Results
Jeb Hensarling, who Boehner just appointed chairman of the House Financial
Services Committee, forgot to stick to Fox News yesterday and wandered over
to CNN for an interview. Soledad O'Brien is nothing like one of the
empty-headed Fox bimbos and she asked him actual journalist questions...
which he either couldn't or wouldn't answer. When she wanted to know why
the GOP won't follow Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole's suggestion and just
vote to allow tax breaks for the first $250,000 of everyone's income, the
closest Hensarling came to an answer was to lie about President Obama's
vot... more »
One of My All-Time Favourite YouTube Clips
Maybe he just needed a haircut.
Israel reportedly threatens to cancel Gaza truce if Islamic Jihad heads enter Strip
*More here:*
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-reportedly-threatens-to-cancel-gaza-truce-if-islamic-jihad-heads-enter-strip/
Get offa Virginia Foxx's elevator
I knew before I even clicked the link on the twitter this morning, that
this would be about my crazy Congresscreature. Virginia Foxx won't share *
her* elevator dammit.
Some unfortunate staffer was trying to do her job. The other elevators were
tied up with a furniture moving project so yes, she took the members-only
elevator. She only made it one floor before my ill-tempered
Congresscreature got on board.
Foxx said to the staffer, “This is a ‘members-only’ elevator; can you
read?” She then demanded the staffer’s name before the elevator stopped
after going just one more floor up... more »
GEORGE STINNEY WAS INNOCENT
[image: He was 14 yrs. 6mos. and 5 days old --- the youngest person
executed in the United States in the 20th Century]
*George Junius Stinney, Jr.,1929 - 1944. *
George Stinney was 14 years old when he was executed - the youngest person
executed in the United States in the 20th Century.
In a South Carolina prison, guards walked the 14-year-old boy, bible tucked
under his arm, to the electric chair.
At 5' 1" and 95 pounds, the straps didn’t fit, and an electrode was too big
for his leg.
The switch was pulled.
Tears streamed from George's eyes.
George's confession was coerced, and, ... more »
"The Search for Truth"
"The Search for Truth"
By David Chandler
“Some people might wonder what motivates a physics teacher to get up and
talk about religion and world issues. I am not a professional political
scientist or sociologist or theologian. But I am a concerned citizen and a
thinking person. To be a scientist does not mean you have to be a
one-dimensional person out of touch with life beyond the lab. Physics used
to be called natural philosophy. It is a branch of philosophy in that it is
part of the quest for truth. The same thing that motivates me to ponder the
true nature of the physical w... more »
Abby Martin Interviews Webster Tarpley
Syrians Used as Political Pawns | Interview with Webster Tarpley
Deck the Halls
Not quite fair to Keynesianism, but fun nonetheless:
One less lunatic on Capitol Hill - Jim DeMint resigns
Surprising almost everyone, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-Crazytown) resigned the
Senate today and announced his move to head up the Heritage Foundation.
Which seems like the perfect fit. Heritage has become the HQ of
conservative lunacy so the severely demented DeMint will fit right in.
Think Progress quickly came up with 11 reasons this should make sane people
happy. All of them good and I could add one more. Jim DeMint is a batshit
crazy, soulless sociopath whose life dream is to destroy governance by
consent of the majority.
Not that he won't still be doing that as head of Heritage but ... more »
The BBC respond - inadequately, of course
Further to this post I have finally received a response from the BBC. It's
a long response but it doesn't satisfy me.
Stephanie Harris
6 December 2012 15:27
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your emails to Helen Boaden which have beens passed to me, as
it is my role as Head of Accountability for BBC News to investigate such
matters on behalf of the Director of BBC News. You suggest that the BBC's
Middle East Editor was biased when he held a Q&A session on September 17th,
the date of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashonah, because you believe he was
excluding “the vast majority of Jews” wh... more »
Friday Morning Ramble: ‘Gangnam Style’ edition
So you’re a YouTube sensation. The world’s biggest. But how much money do
you make from that? Turns out new media can be more lucrative than old.
*Cashing in Gangnam Style on YouTube fame* – NZ HERALD
If your kid doesn’t do religious studies, they get put next to the rubbish
bin. Not in Mississippi, but in New Zealand.
*Bible-class stance dismays father* – NZ HERALD
“Tomorrow marijuana legalization begins to take effect in Washington state.
Adults 21 or older will be allowed to possess up to an ounce for personal
use and consume it privately… In Colorado, meanwhile, legalization... more »
NGOs Make Emergency Appeal in Doha
Greenpeace, Oxfam, WWF, Christian Aid, Action Aid and Friends of the Earth
have issued an emergency appeal for immediate and forceful action by the
delegations at the Doha climate summit.
*[Their statement warned] the Doha talks were on the brink of disaster and
that rich governments had 24 hours to urgently make a deal that reflects
the scale of planetary emergency facing humanity.
This deal must include scaled up public climate finance from 2013, deep
emissions cuts and a mechanism to address loss and damage.*
*"Failure is locking in inaction for the next decade. The millions o... more »
"Senate Unanimously Passes 2013 NDAA; Power to Arrest Americans Remains"
*"Senate Unanimously Passes 2013 NDAA; *
*Power to Arrest Americans Remains"*
by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.
"As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In
both
instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly
unchanged.
And it is in such twilight that we all must be aware of any change in
the
air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness." -
Justice William O. Douglas
"Just after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, the Senate did it again. By a vote of
98-0(two senators abstained) lawmakers in the upper chamber approved the
Fiscal
Ye... more »
Chemical scare is a Smoke Screen for intervention, says Syria
Western powers are whipping up fear of chemical weapons as a pretext to
intervene in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad's government said on
Thursday, after several Western countries said they feared Assad might use
poison gas.
"Syria stresses again, for the tenth, the hundredth time, that if we had
such weapons, they would not be used against its people. We would not
commit suicide," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Maqdad told Lebanon's Al
Manar television, the voice of the pro-Assad Hezbollah movement.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE8AJ1FK20121206
The Moon Goes Commercial? Maybe, Maybe Not.
A company calling itself Golden Spike has announced it will start
commercial moon travel service by 2020. The company will take people and
gear to the lunar surface and back for $1.5-billion a trip.
***Golden Spike will follow a model like that of the Russian spaceflight
industry in the 1980s and ‘90s, when they charged money to take other
nations’ astronauts to the Salyut and Mir space stations for scientific
experiments. Many governments, including Finland, Japan, the Czech Republic
and Malaysia took Russia up on its offer.*
*“We can give countries an expedition to surface of th... more »
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake TARAPACA, CHILE - 6th December 2012
Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 18:58:55 UTC
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 03:58:55 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
17.948°S, 69.470°W
Depth
122.9 km (76.4 miles)
Region
TARAPACA, CHILE
Distances
29 km (18 miles) NNE of Putre, Chile
Talking "Fiscal Cliff"
I completely endorse Kevin Drum's smart post today about liberal complaints
about the name "fiscal cliff" for the convergence of a spending sequester,
expiring tax rates, and other things. Drum says, correctly, that it's the
name we're stuck with regardless of what anyone wants at this point, and
also that it's not really all that easy to manufacture this stuff and have
it stick.
Beyond that, the really important point is that in almost every case, what
we call this stuff matters a whole lot less than people think, and probably
not at all.
Remember, there's a real bias here: most o... more »
So much for the age of austerity: Fury as council blows £1m on giant 'Slinky' toy sculpture
The concrete artwork - to commemorate the 200th birthday of Shrewsbury's
most famous son, Charles Darwin - even cost £200,000 more than the iconic
Angel of the North. Shropshire Council had originally planned to pay
£483,000 for the 39ft high statue - which some have compared to a slinky
spring and a cow's spine. But costs have spiralled to more than £1million,
triggering a backlash from furious residents of the market town.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244029/Shropshire-council-splashes-1m-town-centre-sculpture.html
‘Dancer,’ study, by Degas
[image: image]
Look how ingeniously the master painter makes a whole figure with just a
few lines in pastel and chalk on coloured paper.
[Hat tip Michael Newberry]
Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission
to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake TURKMENISTAN - 6th December 2012
Magnitude mb 4.6
Region TURKMENISTAN
Date time 2012-12-06 18:29:14.6 UTC
Location 40.10 N ; 54.79 E
Depth 24 km
Distances 75 km NE Balkanabat, Turkmenistan
Senate Republican leader blocks debt limit vote
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday prevented a simple
majority vote on a proposal to give Democratic President Barack Obama
unilateral power to raise the debt limit.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-usa-fiscal-senate-idUSBRE8B515H20121206
Mafia Shootout In Italian Nursery Playground
A mafia gangster has been shot dead by a rival in the courtyard of an
Italian nursery as dozens of children rehearsed their Christmas carol
service.
Victim Luigi Lucenti, 50, was chased into the nursery by masked gunmen and
shot several times at point blank range before his killers escaped on a
high powered motorbike.
http://news.sky.com/story/1021719/mafia-shootout-in-italian-nursery-playground
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN GREECE - 6th December 2012
Magnitude mb 4.6
Region SOUTHERN GREECE
Date time 2012-12-06 17:48:17.0 UTC
Location 36.95 N ; 23.11 E
Depth 10 km
Distances 26 km NE Sikéa, Greece
Havas - EuroRSCG - Metamorphosis
*To mark Credit Suisse's sponsorship of a major new exhibition at the
National Gallery created a short film inspired by Titian's famous painting
of Diana and Actaeon.
'Metamorphosis Titian 2012' is a groundbreaking multi-arts project -
involving contemporary artists Chris Ofili, Conrad Shawcross and Mark
Wallinger in a unique collaboration with The Royal Ballet.* [source HAVAS
oka Euro RSCG London]
Actually, this was gonna be a rant along the lines of, "Do we really need
the British Royal Family in today's so-called modern world?" I mean, at
least Queen Beatrice of the Nether... more »
U.S. Navy to monitor N. Korea launch
The Navy is moving some warships into position to monitor a possible
upcoming North Korean launch of a long-range ballistic missile, U.S.
Department of Defense officials said Thursday.
The USS Benfold and the USS Fitzgerald - both guided missile destroyers -
are moving into positions, although the Navy declined to give their exact
location. They are being sent to monitor for a possible launch and "provide
reassurance to allies," according two Defense Department officials.
It's possible two additional ships will be sent in the next few days, the
officials added.
http://security.blog... more »
Military plane crashes in South African mountains
A South African military plane crashed in the mountains as it headed to an
airport near the rural hometown of Nelson Mandela, authorities said
Thursday.
A military spokesman declined to comment on the plane's mission or the
number of people aboard, but said rescuers are searching for survivors.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/06/world/africa/south-africa-military-crash/
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION - 6th December 2012
Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 16:52:24 UTC
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 02:52:24 PM at epicenter
Location
56.087°S, 27.400°W
Depth
103.6 km (64.4 miles)
Region
SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
Distances
69 km (42 miles) N of Visokoi Island,
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake BOUVET ISLAND REGION - December 06, 2012
Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 15:46:50 UTC
Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 03:46:50 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
54.039°S, 1.964°W
Depth
18.7 km (11.6 miles)
Region
BOUVET ISLAND REGION
Distances
349 km (216 miles) W of Bouvet Island, Bouvet Island
Silvio Berlusconi's party rebels in Italian Senate
Former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi's party has abstained from a
confidence vote in the Senate, sparking warnings of a political crisis.
Prime Minister Mario Monti's government won the vote, but Mr Berlusconi's
PDL party reportedly threatened to repeat its rebellion in the lower house.
Mr Berlusconi earlier hinted he might run again in elections next year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20632870
Will The ConservaDems Vote With The GOP Or With The Democrats When Push Comes To Shove On The Grand Bargain?
I have to admit that I was a little surprised when I saw that so many of
the very worst Blue Dogs in Congress had signed Pelosi's discharge petition
Tuesday. The petition would force a straight-up vote of the House floor to
renew tax breaks for everyone's first $250,000 in income. The GOP is
balking because it doesn't renew the Bush tax cuts on income above
$250,000. But most Blue Dogs signed on, on day one-- the 8 Blue Dogs who
were defeated for reelection or forced to resign: Dan Boren (OK), Mike Ross
(AR), Health Shuler (NC), Larry Kissell (NC), Tim Holden (PA), Ben Chandler
(K... more »
Hearsay and reliability
R. v. P.G., 2012 ONCA 859 has a helpful analysis of the reliability
requirement of the principled approach to hearsay:
[27] The principled approach to hearsay evidence focuses on whether
there is some fact or circumstance that "compensates for, or stands in the
stead of" the safeguards of reliability that exist when a witness gives
first-hand evidence in the court room, namely, that the witness: (1)
testifies under oath; (2) is present before the trier of fact to facilitate
assessment of credibility; and (3) is subject to being tested by
cross-examination: see *R. v. B.(K.G.... more »
Old, Old Senate Update
There are plenty of interesting things about today's major bombshell of Jim
DeMint resigning his Senate seat to run Heritage. It ties in a bit with
what I was talking about yesterday...well, it's just a very interesting
development. He's been an important Senator, and so this choice is
fascinating.
But while I'm thinking about what to say about all that, I'll pause first
for one of my favorite obsessions: the aging of the Senate.
Yup, this is probably a good one. DeMint is 61, born in September 1951.
The Hotline's Reid Wilson has already compiled a list of possible
replacements (So... more »
carolyn egan: we will leave no woman behind
On this day of remembrance of women lost to violence, here is Carolyn Egan,
a woman I am proud to call friend and comrade, accepting the the Constance
E. Hamilton Award on the Status of Women.
Christopher Weatherhead guilty of Anonymous web attacks
Christopher Weatherhead, a 22-year-old British student, has been convicted
for taking part in cyber-attacks carried out by Anonymous.
He and three others were arrested over attacks on Paypal, Mastercard, Visa
and the BPI as part of "Operation Payback".
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/british-student-found-guilty-of-anonymous-web-attacks-1117576
Israel continues slide in corruption perception poll
Israelis perceive their public sector as increasingly corrupt, according to
a global index released Wednesday by the Peace Index. Israel ranked at
number 39 in the world, continuing the country's slide, as Israeli
confidence in the public sector fell to its lowest level in 16 years.
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=294924
Egypt army erects barriers at Cairo presidential palace
The Egyptian army has set up barricades outside the presidential palace,
after ordering protesters to leave the area.
It follows violent overnight clashes between supporters and opponents of
President Mohammed Morsi that left five people dead and 644 injured.
Most protesters left the palace by the 15:00 (13:00 GMT) deadline, though
some opposition activists remained.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20622233
Julianna Goldman, wishing and hoping!
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012*
*Praying for painful cuts:* Last night, Charlie Rose began his program with
Julianna Goldman, White House correspondent for Bloomberg News.
Goldman interviewed Obama on Tuesday. Charlie was debriefing his guest
about this session.
Goldman is a major comer—in fact, she’s already arrived. In October 2010,
she was even named one of “The Power 30 Under 30” by The Apex Society, “an
invitation-only, young professionals club based in New York City.”
On its web site, Apex explains its lofty ideals. Click here, prepare to
cringe:
APEX SOCIETY: The Apex Societ... more »
Tiernos gatitos durmiendo en un gorrito navideño
[image: Gatitos]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Gatos*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Perrito cruzando un charco de agua
[image: Perritos]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Perros*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Osborne Denies 'Fiddling' Mini-Budget Figures
Chancellor George Osborne has denied "fiddling" the borrowing figures in
his bleak mini-budget.
In his Autumn Statement to the Commons on Wednesday, he said that borrowing
would fall this year.
But it quickly emerged that he had included the anticipated income from the
sale of the 4G mobile phone spectrum, and without it borrowing would be up
by £2bn.
http://news.sky.com/story/1021503/osborne-denies-fiddling-mini-budget-figures
Bosque nevado - Paisajes de navidad
[image: Paisajes de Navidad]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Paisajes nevados*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
3D Felt Trees for the Kids to Decorate Over and Over
If your kids are anything like mine, they won't leave the Christmas tree
alone. That beautiful tree is a symbol of the season. A symbol of
excitement and my little girl wants to decorate it over and over again. She
was beginning to drive me a little crazy. I tried to make her a little felt
tree to decorate, but she hated that it was flat and not really all that
tree-like. She wanted a tree that stood up like a real tree, so I set about
making it happen.
These trees are really pretty simple. No sewing in involved just some
scissors and glue.
You will need:
foam cones ( I ended up... more »
FILM / Jonah Raskin :'Searching for Sugar Man'
Searching
for Sugar Man:
The Sixties surface, again
Rodriquez is himself a Sixties survivor. His songs capture the mood of
the late 1960s and the early 1970s. They reflect the anger, the
aspirations, and the despair of the era.
By Jonah Raskin / The Rag Blog / December 6, 2012
When the musician known simply as Rodriguez appeared on the David
Letterman Show in August 2012, dressed in a
Bank Profits Illusory
*"Banks Profits Up 6.6%" by Alan Zibel Dec 5, 2012 p. C3 The Wall Street
Journal*
[Excerpted] "Total profit of $37.6 billion, was up 6.6% or $2.3 billion,
from the same quarter a year earlier....
*...*Banks are able to book gains by selling off refinanced loans to
federally controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac...
...In recent quarters, the industry has drawn most of its earnings
improvements from small provisions to cover bad loans, and officials had
flagged the trend as a concern. But in the third quarter, provisions for
loan losses fell by 20.6%, to $14.8 billi... more »
Mujer saltando de alegria en un campo
[image: Mujeres]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de hermosas mujeres*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Creativos regalos de navidad color morado
[image: Regalos de Navidad]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Esferas*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Why Progressive Republicans Are A Figment of America's Imagination (Currently)
My buddy Tom Degan has written an almost poignant (no, not really)
historical essay about why looking for progressives in Republican circles
today is even more of a lost cause than the South ever "risin' again." Hope
you enjoy it. Dwight David Eisenhower is another Republican whose name is
never mentioned by his political heirs. I wonder why? "Should any political
party attempt to abolish
what i'm reading: the ghost map by steven johnson
Since quitting my horrible job, I've discovered that I actually *can* read
for myself during the school term. I can't read as much as I'd like to, but
then, I never can. It was still amazing, in the middle of a school term, to
put my feet up and read a book.
I've just finished a wonderful nonfiction book which I highly recommend to
anyone who enjoys history, especially the history of science: *The Ghost
Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed
Science, Cities, and the Modern World* by Steven Johnson. The book's
website is here, and the author's websit... more »
Asian cities’ air quality getting worse, experts warn
[image: New Delhi is enveloped by a blanket of smog, caused by a mixture of
pollution and fog. Air pollution has worsened markedly in Asian cities in
recent years and presents a growing threat to human health, according to
experts at a conference that began on 6 December 2012. Pollution levels in
70 percent of the cities in China, India, Bangladesh and Mongolia exceed
even the most lenient of several targets recommended by the W.H.O., said
Clean Air Asia. Altaf Qadri / Associated Press]
By BETTINA WASSENER
5 December 2012
HONG KONG (The New York Times) – Air pollution has worsened... more »
Republicans Block Ratification of UN Treaty on Disabilities
US Senate Fails to Ratify UN Treaty on Disabilities By Michael Mathes,
Agence France-Presse 05 December 12
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/328-121/14866-us-senate-fails-to-ratify-un-treaty-on-disabilities[Excerpted]
The US Senate failed to ratify the UN convention protecting the rights of
the disabled, prompting disappointment from the White House over Republican
blockage of the treaty.
Lawmakers voted 61-38 in favor of the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, but fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for
ratification of a treaty whose approval ... more »
Camino hacia el lago en las montañas verdes
[image: Lagos]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Lagos*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Some Good News On The Vaccine Front: Vaccine Myths Unravelling - 600 % Increase In Number Of Parents Refusing Vaccinations For Their Children In Australia!
Last week, when I was suffering from Sinusitis, I went to the local
Pharmacy to pick up some medicine to alleviate the headaches I was
getting. The Pharmacy had a sign up that said "Sign up for your Flu Shot
and get $5 groceries for free!" .. I thought to myself as I was shaking my
head in disbelief... How the hell can people here in Canada continue to
fall for this horrendous scam? Don't people here realize they are putting
poisons into their bodies?
But there appears to be some good news on the fight against vaccinations
after all... According to this latest report from the Nat... more »
David Warren Brubeck (December 6, 1920 - December 5, 2012)
Jazz legend Dave Brubeck passed on yesterday, one day shy of his 82nd
birthday. His quartet re-wrote the rules of jazz in the fifties and sixties
and he continued to perform well into old age. In tribute, here are a few
clips of this great man of music.
Naranjas con esferas de colores y formas diferentes
[image: Esferas de Navidad]
*CODIGO HTML PARA PONER ESTA IMAGEN EN SU BLOG*
(Un click para seleccionar, Control C para copiar y Control V para pegar) [image:
Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2013]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Esferas*
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
MEN IN ROBES, MAX CLIFFORD; DAVID ROSE; CORNWALL; DEVON; BBC
*Max Clifford (centre) Website for this image*
On 6 December 2012, UK police investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal
arrested PR guru Max Clifford on suspicion of sexual offences, it has been
reported.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/
*Cowell (left)*
Max Clifford's clients have included Simon Cowell.
One of Cowell's friends was Jonathan King - jailed in 2001 for sexually
assaulting five teenage boys.
Louis Theroux told Cowell: "Word on the street is that you're gay."
On American Idol, host Ryan Seacrest told the audience that Cowell's
favourite song was Village People's ... more »
What Talking Filibuster Reformers Are Missing
Sahil Kapur over at TPM today has a very optimistic reading of the
Merkley/Udall talking filibuster plan. As he tells it, the talking
filibuster plan they are considering would "dramatically weaken what is
currently an ironclad 60-vote requirement to move to a final vote on
legislation without the unanimous consent of the Senate."
I have a new piece up at TAP looking at reform in general, and I'm much
more pessimistic about that part of the reform package. Well, I don't know
if optimist/pessimist is the correct description here, but the point is
that Senate reformers believe their ... more »
When the Asian Growth Model Starts to Stumble, or how Korea could go like Japan if it’s not careful
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment